Combination spa and entertainment system

ABSTRACT

A combination spa and electronic entertainment system is disclosed. The spa includes a tub with an upper edge from which horizontal surfaces extend. The surfaces have apertures through which water-tight housings may be raised and lowered. The housings hold components of the entertainment system and have tops larger in size than the apertures to form sealing areas engageable with the horizontal surfaces surrounding the apertures for sealing the apertures and the water-tight housings. A moving mechanism is provided to raise and lower the housings. The mechanism has a platform supported on a carriage movable vertically along a support column. A motor raises and lowers the platforms through a cable and pulley system. A motion limiting device having a pivoting arm which engages sensors communicating with the motor through a control system shuts the motor off in response to predetermined upper and lower limits of cable tension.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.10/286,280, file Nov. 1, 2002, which is based on and claims the benefitof U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/332,861, filed Nov. 6, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to aquatic spas for recreational andtherapeutic use and to such spas in combination with an electronicentertainment system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Spas, also known as hot-tubs, find widespread use in homes,hotels, gymnasiums and hospitals as a means of relaxation or medicaltreatment by providing aquatic massage therapy to the muscles and jointsof a person immersed in a bath of temperature controlled water. Water isheated and pumped within the spa which typically comprises a tub havinga plurality of nozzles to direct jets of water wherever desired on theperson to relieve tension, as well as joint and muscular pain.

[0004] Spas have evolved beyond a strictly functional device merelyproviding therapy to occupy a position as an appurtenance used inleisure time and as a vehicle promoting social activity. As such, it isdesirable to incorporate or associate other devices, also associatedwith leisure and social activities, with the spa. Such devices may bebroadly classified as an entertainment system and include, for example,televisions, radios, compact disc players video tape players andrecorders, digital video disc players and their required accessoriessuch as stereophonic speakers.

[0005] There is a problem in integrating such an entertainment systemwith a spa due to the presence of a reasonably large volume of water inwhich people are immersed and the fact that such systems are electronicin nature and require that electricity be supplied to power them. Unlessproper precautions are taken, the combination of a spa with anentertainment system presents electrical hazards to the occupants of thespa, as well as potential damage to the various components of theentertainment system.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention concerns a combination spa and electronicentertainment system for personal therapy and relaxation by immersion ofone or more people in a volume of water. The combination spa andentertainment system comprises a tub adapted to hold the water andaccommodate one or more people for immersion therein. The tub comprisesa bottom and a plurality of sidewalls surrounding the bottom, thesidewalls having an upper edge extending around the tub. A surfaceextends substantially horizontally from one of the sidewalls andproximate to the upper edge. The surface has an aperture therein. Theaperture is preferably surrounded by a rib positioned on the surface andprojecting outwardly from it. A water-tight housing defining an interioradapted to hold a component of the entertainment system is positionedwithin the aperture and is movable between a first position beneath thesurface and a second position projecting above the surface. The housinghas a cover projecting beyond the perimeter of the aperture, the covercomprising a sealing area facing the surface. The sealing areapreferably has a groove spaced to coincide with the rib on the sealingarea. The groove is sized to receive the rib and contribute to theeffectiveness of the seal when the housing is in the first positionbeneath the surface. The combination further includes a mechanism formoving the housing between the first and the second positions, as wellas a control system for controlling the moving mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, the housing holds a television monitor and has atransparent cover facing the tub permitting the monitor to be viewed bythe people within the tub. In addition to the housing holding themonitor, the combination may also include a second surface extendingsubstantially horizontally from another one of the sidewalls andproximate to the upper edge. The second surface has a second aperturetherein, the second aperture being preferably surrounded by a second ribpositioned on the second surface and projecting outwardly therefrom. Asecond water-tight housing defining an interior adapted to hold anothercomponent, such as an electronic speaker, is positioned within thesecond aperture and movable between a first position beneath the secondsurface and a second position projecting above the second surface. Thesecond housing also has a cover projecting beyond the perimeter of thesecond aperture, the top comprising a second sealing area facing thesecond surface. The second sealing area preferably has a groove spacedto coincide with the rib on the sealing area. The groove is sized toreceive the second rib and thereby contribute to effectiveness of theseal of the second aperture when the second housing is in the firstposition beneath the surface. The combination has a second mechanism formoving the second housing between the first and the second positions.Preferably, the second moving mechanism is controlled by the samecontrol system as controls the first moving mechanism.

[0008] Preferably the moving mechanism comprises a first support columnand a first carriage movably mounted on the first support column formovement in a substantially vertical direction. A first platform ismounted on top of the carriage, the platform adapted to support, forexample, a water-tight housing to hold electronic components. A firstpulley is rotatably mounted on the first support column and a secondpulley rotatably mounted on the first carriage. A motor is operativelyassociated with the mechanism, the motor having or being coupled to arotatable shaft. A control system is linked to the motor for controllingit. A cable is fixedly attached at one end to the support column,engages the first and the second pulleys, and is attached at its otherend to the rotatable shaft. Turning of the shaft by the motor in onedirection winds the cable about the shaft and draws the cable over thefirst and second pulleys, moving the carriage upwardly on the supportcolumn. Turning of the shaft in an opposite direction unwinds the cablefrom the shaft and allowing movement of the carriage downwardly undergravity on the support column.

[0009] Multiple mechanisms may be linked together to simultaneouslyraise and lower various housings. Preferably such multiple mechanismswould further include a second support column and a second carriagemovably mounted on the second support column for movement in asubstantially vertical direction. A second platform is mounted on top ofthe second carriage, the second platform also adapted to support awater-tight housing. A third pulley is rotatably mounted on the secondsupport column and a fourth pulley is rotatably mounted on the secondcarriage. In addition, a fifth pulley is rotatably mounted and fixed inposition between the first and second support columns. A second cable isfixedly attached at one end to the second support column and engages thethird, the fourth and the fifth pulleys, the cable being attached atanother end to the first carriage. Motion of the first carriage upwardlydraws the second cable over the third, fourth and fifth pulleys andmoves the second carriage upwardly on the second support column, motionof the first carriage downwardly allows movement of the second carriagedownwardly under gravity on the second support column.

[0010] The mechanism may also include a motion limiting device. Thepreferred motion limiting device comprises a first sensor incommunication with the control system and capable of generating a signalindicative of a cable tension less than a first predetermined level anda second sensor in communication with the control system and capable ofgenerating a signal indicative of a cable tension greater than a secondpredetermined level. A movable member is engaged with the cable andmovable into a first position in engagement with the first sensor whentension in the cable is less than the first predetermined level, andinto a second position in engagement with the second sensor when tensionin the cable is greater than the second predetermined level. Engagementof the movable member with either of the first and the second sensorscauses a signal to be generated and communicated to the control system,the control system halting the motor in response to the signal.

[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide a spa combined withan electronic entertainment system.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a spa whereinthe components of an electronic entertainment system may be raised andlowered between a hidden position beneath the surface of the spastructure and above the surface for use by persons in the spa.

[0013] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a mechanismfor raising and lowering the components of the entertainment system.

[0014] It is still another object of the invention to provide amechanism for raising and lowering multiple components of anentertainment system.

[0015] It is further another object of the invention to provide amechanism for limiting the motion of the mechanism for raising andlowering the components of the entertainment system.

[0016] It is again another object of the invention to provide a sealingsystem for safely positioning electrical and electronic componentsproximate to a body of water.

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent upon consideration of the drawings and detaileddescription of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination spa andentertainment system according to the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the internal components comprisingthe entertainment system shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a front view of a component shown in FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a component shown in FIG. 2;and

[0022]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of amechanism shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the combination spa andelectronic entertainment system 10. The spa portion comprises a tub 12having a plurality of sidewalls 14 surrounding a bottom 16. The bottom16 as well as the sidewalls 14 have a plurality of nozzles and jets 18through which heated water is pumped and directed to impinge uponmuscles and joints of people immersed within the volume of water held bythe tub 12. Pumps, piping, heater elements, valves and other apparatusfor running the spa are preferably positioned beneath and along side thetub and hidden by a skirt 20 extending downwardly from the upper edge 22surrounding the tub 12. The components for running the spa are wellunderstood by those of skill in the art and need not be shown in detail.

[0024] The electronic components comprising the entertainment system arecontained in water-tight housings, such as 24 for holding a televisionmonitor and 26 for holding a speaker. Each housing is mounted within anaperture 28 in a respective surface 30 which extends substantiallyhorizontally from one of the sidewalls 14, the upper surfaces 30 beingpositioned near to the upper edge 22 of the tub 12. As shown in FIG. 2,each housing 24 and 26 has a mechanism 32 for moving the housingsbetween a first position, shown in FIG. 2, wherein the housings aresubstantially beneath the surfaces 30, and a second position, shown inFIG. 1, wherein the housings project substantially above the surfaces 30allowing the electronic components positioned within the housings to beused by the occupants of the spa. A preferred form of a moving mechanismis described in detail below. A control system 34 (shown in FIG. 1 andschematically in FIG. 2) and a motion limiting device 36 are operativelyassociated with the moving mechanism 32 allowing the occupants of thespa to raise and lower the water-tight housings as desired. Controlsystem 34 may also be used to control the various functions of the spa,such as the water temperature, as well as the operation of the variousjets and nozzles 18.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, water-tight housings 24 and 26 eachhave a respective cover 38 and 40 adapted to enclose the housing. Covers38 and 40 are larger in size than the apertures 28 in the surfaces 30(see FIG. 2) and project beyond the perimeter of the apertures, theexcess cover portion extending outwardly and forming a sealing area 42which faces surfaces 30 and will not pass through the apertures throughwhich the housings move. Each sealing area 42 preferably has a groove 44extending substantially around the cover, the groove being engageablewith a complementary rib 46 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) positioned on eachsurface 30. The ribs 46 project outwardly from each surface 30 andsubstantially surround each aperture 28 to present a raised barrierpreventing water from draining into the apertures when the housings arein the second position extending from the surfaces (FIG. 1). Grooves 44in the sealing areas 42 of covers 38 and 40 are adapted to accommodatethe rib and close off the apertures 28 when the housings are in thefirst position beneath the surfaces 30 (FIG. 2) to prevent water fromentering the apertures and the water-tight housings 24 and 26.

[0026] Water-tight housing 24 is preferably formed of high-strengthplastic and adapted to hold and protect a television monitor 48 shownschematically in dashed line in FIG. 3. The television may be connectedto a cable network, as well as any other components of the entertainmentsystem, such as a video tape recorder/player, a digital video disksystem and the like. The television is operated by a remote control unitby the occupants of the spa. The housing 24 has a transparent cover 50which faces the tub to permit viewing of the television 48 by theoccupants within the tub.

[0027] Water-tight housing 26, shown in FIG. 4, is preferably also madeof high-strength plastic adapted to hold a speaker 52 shownschematically in dashed line. The housing 26 has an angled surface 54which faces a contra-angled surface 56. Both surfaces face the tub 12.Angled surface 54 has a speaker grating 58 mounted thereon forprotecting the speaker, and the angled surface helps drain water awayfrom the speaker. Contra surface 56 acts as a reflector to direct soundfrom the speaker toward the area of the tub so it can be heard by theoccupants.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, tub 12 comprises a seat 13 for accommodatinga person in the spa 10. Seat 13 faces housing 24 allowing for convenientviewing of the television monitor. Housing 26 is positionedsubstantially behind seat 13 and is thus substantially behind a personviewing the television monitor. This allows the speaker to be readilyheard by an occupant of seat 13.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the water-tight housings 24 and 26 arepositioned on a preferred embodiment of the moving mechanism 32 whichraises and lowers them above and below the surfaces 30 as desired by theoccupants of the tub 12 through the use of a control system 34.

[0030] Other embodiments of the moving mechanism, using hydraulic orpneumatic components, as well as other forms of mechanical components,are also feasible. The preferred moving mechanism supporting water-tighthousing 24 holding the television 48 comprises a platform 60 mounted ona carriage 62 which is slidably movable along and guided by a supportcolumn 64 which is mounted to the ground by a base plate 66. A pulley 68is rotatably mounted on the carriage 62 and is rotatable about ahorizontal axis 69. Another pulley 70 is mounted on the support column64 and rotatable about a horizontal axis 71. A cable 72 has one end 74fixed to the support column 64 and is routed over the pulleys 68 and 70.The other end 76 of cable 72 is attached to a rotatable shaft 78 drivenby a motor 80, preferably electrically powered. The motor is controlledby the control system 34 through a communication link 82.

[0031] When it is desired to raise the television for viewing, anoccupant of the tub 12 presses a button 84 on the control system 34which activates motor 80 through the communication link 82. Motor 80turns and winds cable 72 onto shaft 78. The winding of cable 72 onto theshaft draws the cable over the pulleys 68 and 70 which rotate abouttheir respective axes causing carriage 62 to slide upwardly alongsupport column 64 and move the housing 24 containing television 48 fromits position shown in FIG. 2 beneath surface 30 to its position shown inFIG. 1 above surface 30 for viewing by the tub occupants. To lower thetelevision, the same button may be pushed to reverse motor 80 which thenunwinds the cable from the shaft 78. The carriage 62 slides downwardlyalong support column 64 under gravity until the groove 44 in cover 38engages the rib 46 in surface 30 to close off aperture 28.

[0032] The limits of motion of the carriage 62 are determined by motionlimiting device 36 best shown in FIG. 2. Motion limiting device 36comprises a base 86 having two pulleys 88 and 90 mounted thereon androtatable about respective horizontal axes 92 and 94. A movable member,preferably an arm 96 has one end 98 pivotally attached to base 86 forpivoting movement about a horizontal axis 100. The other end 102 of arm96 has a pulley 104 mounted thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis106. Pulleys 88, 90 and 104 are positioned in substantially the samevertical plane. A finger 108 extends from end 102 of arm 96 and isengageable with two sensors, preferably in the form of limit switches,namely, an upper motion limit switch 110 and a lower motion limit switch112. The limit switches are connected to the control system 34 throughrespective feedback links 114 and 116. A biasing member, preferably acompression spring 118, is positioned between ends 98 and 102 of themovable arm 96, the spring 118 biasing the arm away from base 86.

[0033] Cable 72 is directed from pulley 70 on support column 64 throughan idler pulley 120 and loops under pulley 88, over pulley 104 and backunder pulley 90 before engaging shaft 78 on motor 80. The motionlimiting device 36 operates as follows. When button 84 is pressed toraise television 48, motor 80 turns shaft 78 to wind the cable 72 aboutthe shaft. This causes carriage 62 to rise as described above. When thebottom portion 62 a of the carriage encounters a stop 122 on supportcolumn 64, further motion of the carriage is prevented. The motorcontinues to turn however and increases the tension on cable 72 causingarm 96 to pivot downwardly about axis 100 against spring 118 untilfinger 108 engages the upper motion limit switch 110. Closing of thisswitch is communicated to control system 34 by feedback link 114, thecontrol system then stopping motor 80 and applying a brake 124 to themotor or the shaft 78 to hold the carriage in the raised position. Thespring constant of spring 118 is chosen to allow sufficient tension todevelop in cable 72 to raise the television without tripping the limitswitch but will prevent significant excess tension, which occurs, forexample, when the carriage encounters stop 122 or if a heavy object ispositioned on top of cover 38 preventing motion of the housing 24 abovethe surface 30.

[0034] When it is desired to lower the television, button 84 is pressed,releasing brake 124 and reversing motor 80 to unwind the cable 72 fromthe shaft 78. The carriage 62 slides downwardly along support column 64under gravity and keeps enough tension in the cable 72 to compressbiasing spring 118 and prevent finger 108 from engaging lower limitmotion switch 112 prematurely. Once the carriage 62 bottoms out and canmove no further downwardly, the motor continues to turn, furtherrelieving tension in cable 72 and allowing arm 96 to pivot upwardlyabout axis 100 under the force of biasing spring 118 until finger 108engages lower limit motion switch 112. Closing of switch 112 iscommunicated to control system 34 by feedback link 116 and the controlsystem shuts off motor 80.

[0035] Moving mechanism 32 also raises and lowers speakers 52 inhousings 26. A housing 26 is supported on a platform 126 mounted on acarriage 128 slidably movable along and guided by a support column 130.Support column 130 is mounted on a base 132 and has a pulley 134 mountedthereon for rotation about a horizontal axis 136. Another pulley 138 ismounted on carriage 128 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis 140. Acable 142 has one end 144 fixed to support column 130. Cable 142 isrouted around pulleys 138 and 134 to an idler pulley 146 on base 132,the idler pulley being rotatable about a horizontal axis 148. Cable 142continues toward support column 64 and is routed around another idlerpulley 150 mounted on base 66 and also rotatable about a horizontalaxis. The other end 152 of cable 142 is attached to carriage 62. Thus,when motor 80 raises carriage 62 as described above the motion of thecarriage 62 draws cable 142 along pulleys 138, 134, 146 and 150 to alsoslide carriage 128 upwardly along support column 130 to raise speaker 52in housing 26 above surface 30 simultaneously with the television.Similarly, when the carriage 62 is lowered carriage 128 will also belowered as cable 142 is payed out due to the downward motion of carriage62. As shown in FIG. 2, multiple speakers 52 may be raised and loweredby using multiple cables connected to the carriage 62. It is interestingto note that the speed at which the speakers rise is approximately halfthe speed at which the television rises due to the pulley configuration.

[0036]FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the motion limiting device32 a wherein the pivot point 154 of arm 96 is positioned between thespring 118 and the end 102 of the arm engaging the limit upper and lowermotion limit switches 110 and 112. Operation of the motion limitingdevice 32 a is similar to that described above for device 32, it beingnoted that spring 118 is used as a tension spring in device 32 a.

[0037] The combination spa and entertainment system according to theinvention promises to improve the safety and reliability of operation ofthe spa and thereby promote it as a form of relaxation and therapy.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealing system for safely positioningelectronic equipment proximate to a body of water, said sealing systemcomprising: a surface extending substantially horizontally and proximateto said water, said surface having an aperture therein; and awater-tight housing defining an interior adapted to hold said electronicequipment, said housing being positioned in alignment with said apertureand movable between a first position beneath said surface and a secondposition projecting above said surface, said housing having a top largerin size than said aperture and comprising a sealing area facing saidsurface, said sealing area being engageable with said surface to effecta seal around the perimeter of said aperture thereby keeping water fromsaid interior when said housing is in said first position beneath saidsurface.
 2. A sealing system according to claim 1, further comprising arib positioned surrounding said aperture on said surface and projectingoutwardly therefrom, said sealing area having a complementary groovetherein sized to accommodate said rib and thereby seal said aperturewhen said housing is in said first position beneath said surface.
 3. Asealing system according to claim 1, wherein said water-tight housingcomprises a transparent sidewall.
 4. A sealing system according to claim1, wherein said body of water comprises a spa for personal therapy byimmersion of a person in said body of water, said spa comprising a tubadapted to hold said water and accommodate said person for immersiontherein, said tub comprising a bottom and a plurality of sidewallshaving an upper edge extending around said tub, said surface extendingsubstantially horizontally from one of said sidewalls proximate to saidupper edge.
 5. A sealing system according to claim 4, further includinga mechanism for moving said housing comprising: a support columnpositioned beneath said surface; a carriage movably mounted on saidsupport column for movement in a substantially vertical direction; aplatform mounted on top of said carriage in alignment with saidaperture, said water-tight housing being mounted on said platform andmovable between said first and second positions upon movement of saidcarriage on said support column; a motor for raising and lowering saidcarriage; and a transmission system linking said motor with saidcarriage.
 6. A sealing system according to claim 5, wherein saidtransmission system comprises: a first pulley rotatably mounted on saidsupport column; a second pulley rotatably mounted on said carriage; arotatable shaft powered by said motor and fixedly mounted beneath saidsurface; and a cable fixedly attached at one end to said support columnand engaging said first and said second pulleys, said cable beingattached at another end to said rotatable shaft, turning of said shaftin one direction winding said cable about said shaft and drawing saidcable over said first and second pulleys thereby moving said carriageupwardly on said support column, turning of said shaft in an oppositedirection unwinding said cable from said shaft and allowing movement ofsaid carriage downwardly under gravity on said support column.
 7. Amechanism for raising and lowering a platform, said mechanismcomprising: a first support column; a first carriage movably mounted onsaid first support column for movement in a substantially verticaldirection; a first platform mounted on top of said carriage; a firstpulley rotatably mounted on said first support column; a second pulleyrotatably mounted on said first carriage; a motor; a rotatable shaftpowered by said motor; a control system for controlling said motor; anda cable fixedly attached at one end to said support column and engagingsaid first and said second pulleys, said cable being attached at anotherend to said rotatable shaft, turning of said shaft in one directionwinding said cable about said shaft and drawing said cable over saidfirst and second pulleys moving said carriage upwardly on said supportcolumn, turning of said shaft in an opposite direction unwinding saidcable from said shaft and allowing movement of said carriage downwardlyunder gravity on said support column.
 8. A mechanism according to claim7, further comprising: a second support column; a second carriagemovably mounted on said second support column for movement in asubstantially vertical direction; a second platform mounted on top ofsaid second carriage; a third pulley rotatably mounted on said secondsupport column; a fourth pulley rotatably mounted on said secondcarriage; a fifth pulley rotatably mounted and fixed in position betweensaid first and second support columns; and a second cable fixedlyattached at one end to said second support column and engaging saidthird, said fourth and said fifth pulleys, said cable being attached atanother end to said first carriage, motion of said first carriageupwardly drawing said second cable over said third, fourth and fifthpulleys and moving said second carriage upwardly on said second supportcolumn, motion of said first carriage downwardly allowing movement ofsaid second carriage downwardly under gravity on said second supportcolumn.
 9. A mechanism according to claim 8, further including a motionlimiting device comprising: a first sensor in communication with saidcontrol system and capable of generating a signal indicative of a cabletension less than a first predetermined level; a second sensor incommunication with said control system and capable of generating asignal indicative of a cable tension greater than a second predeterminedlevel; and a movable member engaged with said cable and movable into afirst position in engagement with said first sensor when tension in saidcable is less than said first predetermined level, and into a secondposition in engagement with said second sensor when tension in saidcable is greater than said second predetermined level, engagement ofsaid movable member with either of said first and said second sensorscausing a signal to be generated and communicated to said controlsystem, said control system halting said motor in response to saidsignal.
 10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said movablemember comprises: an elongated arm having one end positioned betweensaid first and second sensors, said arm being pivotally mounted andallowing motion of said one end in a first direction into engagementwith said first sensor, and in a second direction into engagement withsaid second sensor; a biasing member for biasing said one end of saidarm into engagement with one of said sensors; and a pair of fixedpulleys rotatably mounted in respective fixed positions adjacent to saidarm and a movable pulley rotatably mounted on said arm, said fixed andsaid movable pulleys being adapted to engage said cable at a positionbetween said carriage and said motor, said cable passing over one ofsaid fixed pulleys, said movable pulley and the other of said fixedpulleys, whereby motion of said shaft lowering said housing to saidfirst position causing tension in said cable to be less than said firstpredetermined value allowing said arm to be biased by said biasingmember into engagement with one of said sensors, said one sensorgenerating said signal to said control system, said control systemhalting said motor in response thereto, motion of said shaft raisingsaid housing into said second position resulting in tension in saidcable greater than said second predetermined level thereby pivoting saidarm against said biasing member into engagement with the other of saidsensors, said other sensor generating a signal to said control system,said control system halting said motor in response thereto.